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Tattoo Don’ts to Avoid Tattoo Removal

Here are a few Tattoo Don’ts to do when getting a tattoo to avoid needing or wanting tattoo removal to undo tattoo rues.  (Phew!) 

Don’t tattoo yourself.  Don’t ask your friend to tattoo you either.  Tattooing involves needles and blood, which can lead to infections, serious health complications and even death.
 
Don’t go to a tattoo artist that does not use sterile technique when tattooing. Walk out the door of a tattoo shop that at first sight looks unclean (dirty is dirty).  And make sure the tattoo artist wears clean gloves and does not use needles on more than one client.

Don’t let a tattoo fester with possible infection. If you suspect problems with your new tattoo such as redness or soreness don’t wait, as these are signs your tattoo have an infection.  Infections are serious and must be treated properly to avoid serious illness.

Don’t look for bargain tattoos.  Choosing a tattoo artist should not be about the best price, it should be based on quality of tattoo work.
 
Don’t be a daring, impulsive, adventurous, intoxicated, or high when getting a tattoo.  Seriously, you are making the decision to get a tattoo that is considered permanent.  And, while there are ways to remove tattoos, tattoo removal is not something that is easy to do. 

Consider doing these Tattoo Don’ts to avoid tattoo removal, and read more advice on Tattoo Do’s and Tattoo Don’ts on this blog.

Tattoo Do’s To Avoid Tattoo Removal

The tattoo removal process of trying to remove embedded ink from the skin, as you can image is not an easy process given that tattoos are suppose to be permanent.

To help prevent tattoo removal in the future, or at least make the process to remove a tattoo easier there are a few Tattoo Do’s and Tattoo Don’ts you should follow. 

Some helpful Tattoo Do’s to avoid tattoo removal down the road are: 

• Do choose a reputable tattoo artist with experience and a clean tattoo establishment. 
• Do stick to simple and small tattoos. Simple and small tattoo designs of one or two colors are easier to remove cover and remove.
• Do choose tattoo location wisely. Tattoos that you can easily cover up with normal everyday clothing when it comes to work or particular social situations are both sensible and versatile.
• Do keep in mind a tattoo that’s “hot” today, may “not” be tomorrow. Go for meaningful and not mainstream.

Information on Tattoo Flash

Here’s a quick look at tattoo flash (pun intended) information from what tattoo flash actually is, to where to look for quality flash art.

Tattoo flash is one of the most popular tattoo terms searched online.  Tattoo flash is defined as an image idea for a tattoo design that is pre-sketched and available for viewing and purchase.

It used to be tattoo flash existed as hand-drawn art designs that were found displayed on the walls of tattoo parlors to give walk-in tattoo customers suggestions and ideas for a tattoo.  Having these tattoo flash sketches displayed in the tattoo shops gave artists a chance to show off their work while speeding up the process of tattooing.

Today, the tattooing industry is moving at warp speed along with the rest of the world, and the new trend is finding tattoo flash online.  In fact, the popularity of tattooing has grown so widespread that tattoo flash artists are a new profession that has developed in the ink industry.

Flash artists are individuals that specialize in mass-producing tattoo designs for the Internet for tattoo seekers to look through and download.  Numerous tattoo flash sites are available online with flash uploaded by artists all over the world.  Tattoo flash sites have hundreds to thousands of flash images to view, and download for a fee.  Virtually everything imaginable is available in tattoo flash making these tattoo flash web sites heavily searched with millions of tattoo seekers on the prowl for the perfect tattoo design.

Many online flash sites offer free tattoo flash.  Free flash sites are examples of sites that illegally purchase tattoo flash sets, that are knock off copies of discounted or free artwork that is being circulated dishonestly.  Free tattoo flash sites are ripping off the original tattoo flash artists who spend hours of time and talent working to create quality tattoo designs that then they don’t receive royalty pay for the sale.

Finding quality tattoo flash designs is similar to getting a good tattoo.  It’s important to research several artists and look at many examples of each artist’s flash designs before going ahead and choosing a tattoo image to get.  Talk to people with tattoos that you like the looks of, and ask where they found their tattoo flash. (more…)

The History of Tattoos Today

A brief glance back in time today, reveals the history of tattoos as being a period full of surprises.  Throughout history, tattoos have been viewed as intriguing designs characteristic of criticism.  And while a great number of people have changed with the times, and so to their attitude of tattoos, surprisingly many people today still hold on to history, and past views of tattoos.

A generation or two ago, having tattoos pretty much landed anyone in the company of soldiers, sailors, bikers and carnival workers.  However, this is not the case when it comes to tattoos today.  Tattoo intrigue not only continues to lure new admirers in, tattoo trends seem to surprise many of us too.

Looking at the history of tattoos in the early 1900’s, tattoos were the foundation caricature of carnival freak sideshows, with crowds of people making their way to the circus’s big top to view the unconventionally over the top tattooed.

During the 50’s and 60’s the history of tattoos repeated itself, becoming common among enlisted men serving in the Navy and Marines.  And it seems the tough, rugged, strong willed fighting character of sailors and soldiers led to the criminal appeal of tattoos.

Tattoos became the sign of the times, marking renegade outlaws, bikers, social outcasts, and the mentally criminal. The sub standard and deviant persona of tattoos remained throughout the 60’s leading into the early 1980’s.

Then the wave of the 80s hit, and tattooing started appealing as a cultural, artistic and social form of body art.

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Tattoo Ink Colors Removed from Regulations

Ink Colors

When it comes to tattoo inks colors, all inks are not created equally.    There are no regulations covering the physical make up of tattoo ink colors and as a result allergies to ink occur as well as making it difficult to remove tattoos with ink colors.

In fact, the term tattoo “ink” is used a bit loosely, since most tattoo ink colors are removed from actually containing ink.  Tattoo ink colors are pretty much derived from any substance that can be finely ground down to provide a color.

Minerals, vegetable dyes, plastics, and metallic salts are all substances that are used to create tattoo ink colors. 

Many substances can be used to make tattoo ink colors.

Blue - Calcium Copper Silicate, Titanium, Carbon, Copper, Cobalt Aluminate

Red - Iron Oxide, Titanium, Carbon,  Magnesium, Cinnabar, Sienna, Sandalwood, Brazilwood

Green - Chromium Oxide, Titanium, Carbon, Copper, Lead Chromate, Pthalocyanine Dyes

Yellow - Curcuma, Cadmium Sulfide

Black - Carbon, Iron

White - Zinc Oxide, Titanium

Brown-Ferric Oxide

Purple-Manganese, Aluminum

Allergic reactions to tattoo inks can arise days, weeks, and even several years after getting tattoos.  Tattoo ink allergies result from the chemical make up of the tattoo ink, and allergies that come about years later occur as the tattoo ink breaks down exposing impurities. 

Granuolomas or nodules are hard growths that form around tattoo ink pigments and can be seen and felt under the skin. These nodules form to trap ink in order to protect the body against tattoo ink identified as a potentially harmful substance.

Tattoo ink colors also create medical complications for people having a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).  People with tattoos should inform their physician and MRI technician to avoid medical complications.

But perhaps the most common problems with ink colors occurs with actually removing tattoos.  Some people are prone to forming keloids a.k.a. excessive scar tissue when their skin is traumatized, and more invasive ways of removing tattoos can lead to keloids in place of the tattoo ink removed.

Many people view laser tattoo removal as the only desirable means of removing tattoos however, the deficiency with laser technology is that lasers do not effectively remove all tattoo ink colors, ending with several partially removed tattoos with visible remnants of ink colors, and many unhappy, half -removed tattoo inked people.

Read other related posts on ways to remove tattoos here on this site.

Expense of Erasing Tattoos

Erasing tattoos with lasers is a tattoo removal business that is on fire, with tens of thousands of patients annually looking to fade away and erase tattoos, regardless that the cost of removing tattoos is substantially more expensive then the cost of getting tattooed.

Per square inch of skin, erasing tattoos is a highly expensive removal procedure compared to the cost of getting tattooed.  It takes six to 10 laser treatments, each usually priced at $100 to $700, depending on size and ink colors, to erase most tattoos.  This equates to a tattoo the size of a matchbox, which costs approximately $75 to get, will likely cost 10 times the amount or $750 to remove.

The tattoo boom in the United States with nearly one in four US adults between age 18 - 50 having atleast one tattoo, according to the American Academy of Dermatology has created a lucrative business for those tattooing, as well as for those erasing tattoos. 

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Tattoo Removal Expense

The cost of tattoo removal and how expensive it is to remove tattoos are not usually what most people are thinking about when they are getting tattoos.  But, when tattoos become an issue such as with a changing body, changing career, or change of heart the first question that most often comes to mind is that of expense, and how much the cost of tattoo removal is.

Most people think of laser tattoo removal as the only “real” means of removing unwanted tattoos.  Most people also consider the cost of laser tattoo removal to be an expensive process that is unaffordable for their budget.

Sure, laser tattoo removal treatments are the most popular tattoo removal method in terms of research and discussion, but they are also expensive, painful, and not always seen as desirable means of removing tattoos. 

There are more affordable and often more practical ways of removing tattoos that include at home tattoo removal methods such as chemical skin peeling, tattoo fading creams and skin lighteners, and more advanced at home tattoo fading systems using several known types of tattoo removal techniques.

These at home tattoo removers offer diversity in tattoo removal with affordable means of effective tattoo fading. 

Affordable cost is not the only benefit of using at home tattoo removal methods, the privacy and convenience of removing a tattoo safely at home is another attractive aspect of in home tattoo removing.

How expensive tattoo removal is and the costs to remove a tattoo are critical for factors for many people when determining which removal method is affordable for their budget.  Fortunately, at home tattoo removal is an alternative method to expensive lasers, as well as a convenient in home way of removing tattoos.

Popular Tattoo Designs and Meanings

Although tattoos are visual decorative designs on the surface of the skin, tattoos are also viewed as symbols with implied meanings representing specific inner integrities and character traits.

To the world, tattoos not only stick out, tattoos stand out as statements and symbols with predetermined meanings.  To avoid tattoo regret and the need to remove a tattoo that misrepresents you, know the meaning of the tattoo design before getting the tattoo inked on your body.  When choosing a tattoo design, it is important to consider the meaning and message a tattoo depicts about your personality. 

A List Of Popular Tattoos And Meanings
Anchor represents safety, hope and salvation
Angel symbolize protection, protectors, guardians, keepers of dreams
Bat signifies longevity, happiness, mystery
Bear considered good luck as well as ignorance
Bird represent birth, intuition, freedom
Bull symbolizes power, strength, and fertility
Butterfly embodies spiritual immortality
Cat both magical and bad omens
Chain if links are broken represents freedom and if intact symbolizes slavery
Cherry tattoos are viewed as a symbolism of fertility, feminine chastity and purity
Clover is seen as a good luck charm
Clown carries the meaning of uncertainty as either laughter or tears
Crescent Moon stands as the transformation and rebirth of feminine power
Cross holds the meaning of sacrifice, love and salvation
Crow is a messenger from GOD
Devil implies mischievousness, urgent desire
Dog known as man’s best friend, loyalty, trustworthiness
Dolphin signifies benefactor, or savior
Dove the universal symbol of peace
Dragon power and strength
Dragonfly  means affinity possessing spiritual life
Eagle represents might, spirit and growth as the king of birds
Eye symbolizes self protection
Fairy barrier of good or evil supernatural powers
Feather symbolic of rebirth and spiritual elevation
Fish abundance of spiritual peace
Frog is a positive symbol of fertility or pregnancy
Hawk inner strength and self-discipline
Heart symbol of love, provided it is neither bloody nor torn into pieces
Leaf symbol of Joy and rebirth
Lion might, awareness, immortality, and bravery
Lizard symbolizes the soul searching for light
Lotus open symbolizes the sun, and closed the moon
Mermaid sign of temptation, seduction, materialism
Monkey is seen as wisdom, knowledge, and or evil powers
Moon ever changing rhythms of life
Phoenix signifies rebirth
Rose a flower of fertility
Sacred heart tattoos religious belief
Skull strong symbol of courage, and death
Snake temptation, knowledge and wisdom
Star an image of spirit, inspiration, and resolution
Sword symbol known as justice, honor, and energy
Tiger tattoos symbolize fierceness, power, and strength
Turtle fertility, and long life
Unicorn represents chastity and purity
Wolf  faithfulness in marriage
Yin Yang symbol of harmony and totality

Before choosing a permanent tattoo design, take the time to consider the message you want to say about yourself.  Know what you mean, and know what your tattoo means to avoid tattoo regret and tattoo removal.

View of Tattoo Ink and Skin

You may be wondering, if skin continually renews itself naturally in a cycle, and old skin cells die and shed off and are replaced with new skin cells, why than wouldn’t a tattoo remove naturally through skin cell turn over and shedding?

The answer to why tattoos are so permanent has to do with ink depth, placement, and make up.  The reason tattoos do not shed away altogether from skin with the body’s natural skin cycle process has much to do with the depth of the tattoo ink placement.
 
Human skin has two principal sections: the Epidermis and the Dermis.

The epidermis is the outer, much thinner section of the two and is made up of four or five sub layers.  These sub layers in the epidermis are where the skin cell renewal cycle primarily occurs.

The dermis is the deepest section of the skin, which is made up of two portions: the upper papillary region and the underlying reticular region.  

Tattoos are created with the intention of inserting ink down into the dermis, where skin cells shed at a much slower rate than the epidermis layers closer to the surface thus explaining why tattoos can remain in the skin a lifetime.

Professional tattoos use proper tools and techniques that embed ink pigments deep into the skin.  Professionally tattooed artwork lies between the epidermis and dermis of the skin and is surrounded by the skin’s tough cellular matrix.  This tough cellular matrix is resilient against breakdown, so the tattoo remains in place.

Amateur tattoos on the other hand, do not use the same professional techniques that force ink pigment deep into the skin.  Amateur tattoos tend to fade overtime because ink is not securely embedded between the dermis and epidermis, but rather some ink exists in the epidermis. 

The tattoo ink pigment that doesn’t make it through the epidermis begins to fade as the skin cells go through cellular renewal process, and shed off the surface of the skin.

Tattoos Transmit Attitude

Tattoos are either seen as beautiful designs of self-expression or public displays of poor judgment.  Ironically, people without tattoos blatantly confess they just don’t get it, while people with tattoos are up in arms about what there is to get.  Yet there is one thing about tattoos everyone seems to “get” or agree on– tattoos are undeniably brimming with attitude.

To the world, tattoos not only stick out they stand out as statements with obvious meaning.  See, many people view tattoos as a means of communicating an unwillingness to conform, or do they?

If you don’t think tattoos give off attitude, just ask one of the millions of recovering tattoo addicts that have gone through the ordeal of tattoo removal after being an outcast in the professional career arena.

So, if getting a tattoo has no significance or meaning to a person, other than a mere patch of colorfully decorated skin, perhaps the individual should consider reconsidering the decision to get a tattoo.  Or at least, he or she should consider the future and what message or meaning tattoo designs can give off to the world, as some tattoos more than others label the person as one with tattoo attitude.

Having tattoos can bring about attitude in others about the way they view your tattoos.  And this tattoo attitude can feel extremely unfair.  But remember expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.

Forgo the attitude of a tattoo fashion fetish, your skin and your future finances will surely thank you.